KONG TenniShoes Giraffe Dog Toy, Large

KONG TenniShoes Giraffe – Large

TenniShoes is a plush animal with a tennis ball sealed into each of its four feet. That is the whole idea: the balls give the toy weight at the corners, so it lurches off in an unexpected direction when it is dropped or shaken, and the long legs between them give a dog something to grip that is nowhere near your hand.

KONG have retired TenniShoes and no longer list it on kongcompany.com. Barcode 035585378015 identifies this as KONG item RTS12E, the Giraffe in Large. No dimensions, weight or material split are published for it, so none appear below — the figures circulating on retail listings are not KONG's own.

Performance & Benefits

• Four tennis balls built into the feet, so the toy bounces and skews unpredictably rather than rolling straight.
• Squeakers fitted to hold a dog's attention past the first few minutes.
• Soft plush between the balls, giving a comfortable place for a dog to carry it.
• Long legs act as natural handles for tug without hands near the teeth.
• Covers fetch, tug and shake in one toy instead of three.

Suitable For

• Large dogs that like a ball but lose interest in a plain one.
• Dogs that thrash and shake a toy rather than settle down to chew it.
• Indoor fetch, where a hard ball would break something.
• Two-person or owner-and-dog games using a leg as the handle.
• Not for a dog that strips plush toys to reach the squeaker — the KONG Jumbler Ball Medium/Large or a KONG Extreme in Large, black, holds up far better.

How to Use

• Roll or bowl it rather than throwing hard; indoors the balls make the bounce unpredictable.
• Offer a leg for tug and release when the dog does.
• Check the tennis balls are still seated in their feet after a heavy session.
• Hand wash and air dry. The balls hold water, so allow plenty of drying time.

Specification

• KONG item RTS12E, TenniShoes Giraffe, Large. Barcode 035585378015.
• Plush body with a tennis ball enclosed in each of the four feet, and squeakers fitted.
• KONG no longer list TenniShoes on kongcompany.com; no dimensions, weight or material percentages are published and none are invented here.
• KONG do not state what grade of felt covers the balls on this toy. Their SqueakAir balls use a non-abrasive felt and are described as such; nothing equivalent is published for TenniShoes.

Care & Caution

• Supervise play. This is a plush toy and will not survive a determined chewer.
• Stop use if a ball works loose from a foot, or if plush or stuffing become exposed.
• Take the toy away once damaged rather than letting a dog dismantle it.
• A loose tennis ball is a choking hazard for a large dog — do not leave one in play on its own.